“Tobacco use is an addiction that results in a huge cost to society and to our health care system,” said Rykerson. “We must encourage our youth to make healthy decisions.”

The bill would require all tobacco products be taxed at rates equivalent to the current tax on cigarettes.

Maine youth are exposed to tobacco products every day in the form of advertising, promotions and pro-tobacco depictions in films and television. These communications more than double the odds that children under 18 will become tobacco users. According to the Partnership For A Tobacco-Free Maine, as much as a third of all youth who experiment with smoking do so because of effective tobacco industry marketing.

Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States and Maine. According to the Partnership, youth rates of cigarette use have declined in the state since 2001, but youth rates of noncigarette tobacco products has increased. These youths are more likely than nonusers to become adult cigarette smokers.

The bill also provides funding for the expected increase in demand of the Maine Tobacco HelpLine.

The Maine Tobacco HelpLine offers advice about quitting tobacco use to tobacco users, their friends and family and professionals working with tobacco users. According to the Partnership For A Tobacco-Free Maine, the HelpLine has serviced over 55,000 callers since 2001.

The Legislature has referred the bill to the Health and Human Services Committee, which will schedule a public hearing on the bill.